Cory Whitsett has a 3.94 gpa in management and was named the NCAA Elite 89 Award winner for men's golf on Monday.

May 28, 2012

PACIFIC PALISADES, Calif. - Alabama sophomore golfer Cory Whitsett was named the recipient of the Elite 89 Award for the 2012 NCAA Division I Men's Golf Championships on Monday evening.

Whitsett, a sophomore from Houston, Texas, was presented the award at a welcome banquet for the 2012 NCAA Men's Golf Championships, hosted by Southern California. He has a 3.94 grade-point average in management at the University of Alabama.

The Elite 89, an award founded by the NCAA, recognizes the true essence of the student-athlete by honoring the individual who has reached the pinnacle of competition at the national championship level in his or her sport, while also achieving the highest academic standard among his or her peers. The Elite 89 is presented to the student-athlete with the highest cumulative grade-point average participating at the finals site for each of the NCAA's championships.

Whitsett is competing in his second NCAA Championships and is ranked 18th in the most recent Golfweek/Sagarin Performance Index. He is second on the team with a 71.44 scoring average and has two tournament victories on the season and three for his career.

Eligible student-athletes are sophomores or above who have participated in their sport for at least two years with their school. They must be an active member of the team, traveling and a designated member of the squad size at the championship. All ties are broken by the number of credits completed.

For more information on the Elite 89 award winners, log on to NCAA.com/elite89.

Alabama tees off in the first round of the NCAA Men's Golf Championships from Riviera Country Club on Tuesday at 2:20 p.m. (CDT). Follow live scoring at golfstat.com and follow breaking news on the Crimson Tide on Facebook at Alabama-mens-golf and on Twitter at @AlabamaMGolf.